VFA-204
Encyclopedia
Strike Fighter Squadron 204 (VFA-204), also known as the "River Rattlers", is a Strike Fighter Squadron flying the F/A-18A+
and is based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
. They are part of the United States Navy Reserve
Tactical Support Wing
. Their radio callsign is River and their tail code is AF.
on 31 August 1970.
Skyhawks at NAS Memphis, Tennessee on July 1, 1970. Shortly after transitioning to the A-4E Skyhawk in 1971, the squadron deployed for two weeks with
Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 embarked on the , a Naval Reserve first.
The squadron was established as Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR (VA-204) on 1 July 1970 at NAS Memphis, flying the A-4C and A-4L Skyhawk
as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force.
VFA-204 began its long list of tactical accomplishments by winning back to back CVWR-20 Bombing Derbies in 1971 and 1972. In May 1972, the squadron participated in exercise Exotic Dancer V, designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization. VA-204 received the CNO annual Safety Award for 1973. The award represented over 5,000 hours of accident free flying for the year. In 1975 the River Rattlers won the F. Trubee Davison Award as the "Best Tailhook
Squadron in the Naval Reserve"
The Squadron was directed to cease flight operations in December 1977 and transfer all A-4 aircraft in custody. In complying with that directive, VA-204 closed the final chapter in the United States Navy's single seat Skyhawk attack aviation era. In March 1978 the squadron moved from NAS Memphis to NAS New Orleans and began receiving A-7B
aircraft. With transition and relocation complete, VA-204 began establishing enviable records of operational readiness and safety. In 1979 the squadron deployed to MCAS Yuma, NAS Fallon and embarked on .
The pace increased in 1980 with numerous deployments ranging from Exercise Safe Passage, a combined NATO forces exercise conducted near NAS Bermuda, to NAS Fallon. VA-204 again was selected as the winner of the CNO Safety Award for 1980.
The squadron earned the CNO Safety Award again in 1982 and 1983, and was nominated for the Noel Davis (Battle "E") in 1983. The tradition of excellence continued in 1984 by winning the CVWR-20 Golden Wrench Award and the Battle "E".
With transition from the A-7B to the A-7E completed in 1986, the next four years saw the River Rattlers establish a high level of tactics and excellence in the Corsair II. During this period, the squadron completed seven weapons detachments, three carrier qualification evolutions, air wing active duty to NAS Fallon and embarkation the and .
VA-204 transitioned to the FA-18A Hornet
in April 1991 and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR (VFA-204) on 1 May 1991.
In 1992, the squadron conducted numerous detachments to NAS Cecil Field, NAS Fallon, and NAS Key West. In June the same year, the River Rattlers led an air wing mine warfare exercise. In November the squadron qualified 16 pilots aboard .
The squadron officially completed its transition to the F/A-18 Hornet in March 1993, and the next month began initial adversary training at NAS Oceana, VA. In October the squadron became the first Reserve Strike Fighter Squadron to provide adversary support to the active duty fleet during a one week detachment to NAS Key West. In 1993, VFA-204 received its sixth CNO Safety Award, completing 13 years and 50,000 Class-A mishap free flight hours.
In December 1994, the squadron conducted carrier qualification aboard the and ended the year by winning its second Battle "E". In addition, the squadron received their second F. Trubee Davison Award as 'Best Tailhook Squadron in the Naval Reserve'.
The Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the squadron in 1995 for its successful transition from the A-7E to the FA-18. In a February detachment to NAS Fallon, VFA-204 expended a record 302 tons of ordnance, smashing the squadron's old record of 128 tons delivered at Fallon in 1993.
During the summer of 1996, the squadron embarked in then what was the Navy's newest carrier, . This highly successful detachment included the first ever night cyclic operations for the River Rattlers and another live fire missile exercise in the Virginia operations area.
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
and is based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans is a base of the United States military located in Belle Chasse, unincorporated Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. NAS JRB New Orleans is home to the 159th Fighter Wing as well as other naval activities...
. They are part of the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
Tactical Support Wing
Tactical Support Wing
The Tactical Support Wing is a United States Navy reserve Tactical air wing based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. Commander, Tactical Support Wing has become the new designation of the former Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 . This change occurred on 1 April 2007 and was executed...
. Their radio callsign is River and their tail code is AF.
Squadron Insignia and Nickname
The squadron’s insignia and nickname River Rattlers were approved by CNOCNO
CNO is a three-letter initialism. It can mean:* "chartay nahi o??" BFSF, abbreviated CNO in the context of the GPS* Chief of Naval Operations* Chief Networking Officer* Chief Nuclear Officer* Chief Nursing Officer* Chino Airport IATA symbol: CNO...
on 31 August 1970.
History
Strike Fighter Squadron 204 was originally commissioned as Attack Squadron 204 flying A-4CA-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
Skyhawks at NAS Memphis, Tennessee on July 1, 1970. Shortly after transitioning to the A-4E Skyhawk in 1971, the squadron deployed for two weeks with
Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 embarked on the , a Naval Reserve first.
1970s
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
as part of a reorganization intended to increase the combat readiness of the Naval Air Reserve Force.
VFA-204 began its long list of tactical accomplishments by winning back to back CVWR-20 Bombing Derbies in 1971 and 1972. In May 1972, the squadron participated in exercise Exotic Dancer V, designed to test multiservice operations under a unified command organization. VA-204 received the CNO annual Safety Award for 1973. The award represented over 5,000 hours of accident free flying for the year. In 1975 the River Rattlers won the F. Trubee Davison Award as the "Best Tailhook
Tailhook
A tailhook, also arresting hook or arrester hook, is a device attached to the empennage of some military fixed wing aircraft...
Squadron in the Naval Reserve"
The Squadron was directed to cease flight operations in December 1977 and transfer all A-4 aircraft in custody. In complying with that directive, VA-204 closed the final chapter in the United States Navy's single seat Skyhawk attack aviation era. In March 1978 the squadron moved from NAS Memphis to NAS New Orleans and began receiving A-7B
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
aircraft. With transition and relocation complete, VA-204 began establishing enviable records of operational readiness and safety. In 1979 the squadron deployed to MCAS Yuma, NAS Fallon and embarked on .
1980s
The squadron earned the CNO Safety Award again in 1982 and 1983, and was nominated for the Noel Davis (Battle "E") in 1983. The tradition of excellence continued in 1984 by winning the CVWR-20 Golden Wrench Award and the Battle "E".
With transition from the A-7B to the A-7E completed in 1986, the next four years saw the River Rattlers establish a high level of tactics and excellence in the Corsair II. During this period, the squadron completed seven weapons detachments, three carrier qualification evolutions, air wing active duty to NAS Fallon and embarkation the and .
1990s
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
in April 1991 and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOUR (VFA-204) on 1 May 1991.
In 1992, the squadron conducted numerous detachments to NAS Cecil Field, NAS Fallon, and NAS Key West. In June the same year, the River Rattlers led an air wing mine warfare exercise. In November the squadron qualified 16 pilots aboard .
The squadron officially completed its transition to the F/A-18 Hornet in March 1993, and the next month began initial adversary training at NAS Oceana, VA. In October the squadron became the first Reserve Strike Fighter Squadron to provide adversary support to the active duty fleet during a one week detachment to NAS Key West. In 1993, VFA-204 received its sixth CNO Safety Award, completing 13 years and 50,000 Class-A mishap free flight hours.
In December 1994, the squadron conducted carrier qualification aboard the and ended the year by winning its second Battle "E". In addition, the squadron received their second F. Trubee Davison Award as 'Best Tailhook Squadron in the Naval Reserve'.
The Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the squadron in 1995 for its successful transition from the A-7E to the FA-18. In a February detachment to NAS Fallon, VFA-204 expended a record 302 tons of ordnance, smashing the squadron's old record of 128 tons delivered at Fallon in 1993.
During the summer of 1996, the squadron embarked in then what was the Navy's newest carrier, . This highly successful detachment included the first ever night cyclic operations for the River Rattlers and another live fire missile exercise in the Virginia operations area.
See also
- Naval aviationNaval aviationNaval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
- Modern US Navy carrier air operationsModern US Navy carrier air operationsModern United States Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or non-combat missions. Modern United States Navy aircraft carrier flight operations are highly evolved, based on experiences...
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
- United States Naval AviatorUnited States Naval AviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
- Military aviationMilitary aviationMilitary aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons